5 picks for a top notch New Year

Christmas is fast approaching, and before you know it, it’ll be time to put into action those all-important New Year’s plans! Some people think it’s overrated and some people love it but either way, it’s highly likely you’ll need some kind of plan to see you through the night into 2017! If you’ve yet to conjure a great idea for a perfect way to spend the night, make sure you start planning now to avoid disappointment! Here are a few pointers to potential options that could be just the trick.

Cracking Capitals

Head to a capital this New Year! With two wonderful capital cities within our network, YHA know a thing or two about living it up in a big city! Everyone knows about London’s New Year’s Eve pedigree, with the banks of the Thames annually lined with people for the yearly display of fireworks which light up the city’s ever-growing skyline. Cardiff has a firework display of its own, but is more commonly associated with its nightlife scene which will have an abundance of events for you to enjoy across the city.

Allendale Tar Barrel festival

Should you be seeking a more obscure way of entering next year, then you’ll do well to find anything more obscure than the Allendale Tar Barrel festival in Northumberland. The festival has formed the village’s way of seeing in the New Year for over 150 years, and sees a group of villagers carrying blazing barrels on their heads in a procession, before throwing the barrels onto a bonfire to set it alight, illuminating the village in the process. Bizarre, but brilliant! The festival takes place near to YHA Ninebanks and is also close to our brand new site, YHA The Sill at Hadrian’s Wall, recently opened in July 2017! Acquaint yourself with the area, ready to book into our state of the art accommodation.

Exclusive Hire of YHA New Forest

Do you see New Year as more of an opportunity to take a break and head to the countryside after the busy and stressful Christmas period? If so, be sure to consider a trip to the New Forest. Newly refurbished and re-opened in the summer of 2017, YHA New Forest is the ideal spot for an idyllic, rural getaway with a large group of family and friends. With space for up to 36, this converted country house is set in extensive grounds with easy access to the National Park, perfect for blowing away the Christmas cobwebs and excesses. With YHA Exclusive Hire available from 30th December – 3rd January for £655 per night, it’s the ideal opportunity for you to gather family and friends to enjoy the area at its finest.

Convivial Cornwall

If the Lake District isn’t quite your thing and you prefer the South West of England, head to the Cornish town of St Ives, a place which has become renowned for its New Year’s Eve celebrations. The town becomes awash with fancy dress costumes and is consumed by a party atmosphere, with restaurants and bars all enjoying some kind of themed celebration. Plus, with YHA Penzance just a few miles down the road, you don’t have to worry about finding great accommodation. There are certainly worse places in which to wake up to a New Year, meaning a trip into St Ives is ideal as part of a long weekend in Cornwall.

City Break

Sometimes New Year’s Eve is best kept simple, with a trip to a city which you can rely on to offer great bars and restaurants. In Bristol and Bath, the South West boasts a pair of cities which are jam-packed with establishments in which you can dance the night away and enter 2018 in high spirits! Bristol is famed for its pubs, where you’ll find brilliant beer and some great local bands, serenading the crowds which tend to gather as the night develops. Likewise, Bath has a number of elegant establishments to enjoy, and is developing a growing reputation for dining.